Absence of Malice

"In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?"

1981 1h 56m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 261

DramaRomanceCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Megan Carter is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher, a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his crime was allegedly committed—but it involves an innocent party. When he tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher.

“In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?”

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Cast

Sally Field
Megan Carter
Paul Newman
Michael Colin Gallagher
Bob Balaban
Elliott Rosen
Melinda Dillon
Teresa Perrone
Luther Adler
Santos Malderone
Barry Primus
Robert Waddell
Josef Sommer
McAdam
John Harkins
Davidek

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sydney Pollack
Writers: Kurt Luedtke
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.4× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sydney Pollack, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sheldon Kahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sally Field and Paul Newman and Bob Balaban carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sydney Pollack directs. Owen Roizman behind the camera. Dave Grusin scores. Sheldon Kahn cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 3.4× over at the box office.
245 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
4Directed by Sydney Pollack, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Sheldon Kahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Sally Field and Paul Newman and Bob Balaban carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?".
9IMDB entry: tt0081974 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Released under 14 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Owen Roizman
Original score: Dave Grusin
Editing: Sheldon Kahn
Production design: Terence Marsh
Costume design: Bernie Pollack
Makeup / hair: Terri Cannon
Sound: Arthur Piantadosi
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $40,716,963
Return: 339% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Absence of Malice (1981)

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Sydney Pollack

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What people are saying

Peter McGinn2020-09-19
★ 9/10
Sidney Pollack has directed a lot of excellent movies but Absence of Malice, one of his lower profile efforts, is my favorite Pollack film. Paul Newman is excellent, of course, and Sally Fields holds her own portraying a reporter who is both ambitious and caring. The supporting cast is also good, especially the late Wilford Brimley as the razor sharp tobacco chewing “aw shucks“ Officer of the court late in the movie. In a way, this is a thinking man’s revenge film, without the violence. The Paul Newman character attempts to use the ambition and the zeal of those who have targeted him against them. There are traces of humor to be found also, and pockets of romance. I have watched it a few times and probably will again.

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